I had assumed that the #DisruptTexts movement was organic. But I recently discovered https://t.co/55JVkOeyO7, and I think that, in addition to publishers springing into action to meet market demand, they may possibly be playing a role in fostering abandonment of classics. 1/

Because, there is perhaps much less money to be made selling classics. 2/
I need to be VERY clear that I am wholly in favor of *expanding* the cannon and adding relevant, engaging texts for students in middle school, high school, and (of course) college. Students can and should read Baldwin, Marquez, Tan, Walker, Morrison, Malcolm X, and on and on. 3/
But this website suggests 'disrupting' so many valuable classics that one has to wonder if the interests of real education are being served.

For example, disrupt Shakespeare https://t.co/oLB38lXmRH

given "violence, misogyny, racism" in the texts. 4/
Disrupt "To Kill a Mockingbird"

https://t.co/7e020R5jaN

given Atticus Finch's alleged limitations and failings.

To be clear, few real persons have half the moral strength (& parenting skills) of the fictional Atticus Finch (Nelson Mandela or Sophie Scholl re the former?). 5/
Or disrupt "The Crucible"

https://t.co/LTSoRmjFK9

because doing so would stand in opposition to "mass hysteria & paranoia."

The irony is astonishing.

If you don't think young people can be taught, or learn from, The Crucible, you really have drunk the Kool Aid. 6/
What would the authors of this #DisruptTexts website replace such books with? 7/
“Our team is excited to share that we have eight teaching & learning guides for texts [e.g., “Antiracist Baby” by Ibram X. Kendi] we believe can be integrated into classrooms tomorrow. We are thrilled to collaborate with Penguin to bring these guides to teachers everywhere.” 8/
Of course students can read these books. https://t.co/ng4ZPiPINO

I know it can be hard to find books that engage the hearts and minds of young people.

But I do have a problem with the *reasons* offered for why classic texts are not valuable. 9/
And I have endless confidence in the capacity of good teachers to help students to understand and work through what it means to read an 'old' text, to critique it, to still see its value (incl its foundational impact on our society), and to rise up to write & say new things. 10/
In the end, I think this is a question of degree and balance. Teach The Crucible side by side with Beloved. To me, that is what real education is all about. 11/

More from For later read

I’ve been frustrated by the tweets I’ve seen of this as a Canadian. Because the facts are being misrepresented.

We’re not under some sort of major persecution. That’s not what this is. A thread. 1/8


This church was fined for breaking health orders in Dec. They continued to break them. So the pastor was arrested and released on conditions of... you guessed it, not breaking health orders. And then they broke the health orders. 2/8

So then he was arrested and told he couldn’t hold church services in person if he was to be released. He refused. He’s still in custody.

Here is my frustration as a Christian in Canada:

1. They were able to gather, with some conditions. They didn’t like those. 3/8

2. He is not actually unable to preach. He is just unable to hold church services because they broke the conditions given by the public health office in Alberta. He says he can’t in good conscience do that, so they are keeping him in jail (because he will break the law). 4/8

3. This is the 1st article of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: “guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.” 5/8

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